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Torsionally stiff precision engineering


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Verwindungssteife Präzisionsarbeit

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Porsche Cayman S

Introducing the Cayman S, Porsche offers the customer a new Sports Coupé positioned right between the Boxster and the 911 Carrera.

../../JPG/PORSCHE/POR00170.JPG, photo by porsche 09-2005Based on the Boxster model series, this mid-engined sports car comes in different dimensions and has an even more powerful engine: The new 3.4-litre six-cylinder mounted upfront of the rear axle of the Cayman S develops maximum output of 295 bhp (217 kW) at 6250 rpm, giving this 1340 kg (2955 lb) sports car a power-to-weight ratio of 4.5 kilos per horsepower (6.2 kg/kW) and ensuring acceleration to 100 km/h in just 5.4 seconds. Top speed is 275 km/h or 183 mph, attributable inter alia to the outstanding drag coefficient of just 0.29.

Unique design in that typical Porsche style

In its design, the new Cayman S clearly boasts all the styling elements of a Porsche reinterpreted in a new and very different look. The new face of the car, for example, is characterised by the asymmetric headlights moved far out to the outside and is further accentuated by large air intakes at the side accommodating the foglamps and position lights integrated in slender trim bars. The Cayman S comes as standard with clear glass H7 main headlights in projection technology, with bi-xenon headlights available as an option. The lines of the car from the side accentuate the particular position of the mid-mounted engine as well as the compact body of this exceptional Sports Coupé. The side view is dominated by flared wheel arches extending far out and rising higher up to accommodate the car's wheels, as well as the strong curvature of the roof tapering down to the low and dynamic rear end. The side air scoops clearly bear testimony to the Boxster, but nevertheless add a new and unique touch through the vertical slats stretching elegantly from top to bottom.

A further new and unique feature is the special design of the newly developed 18-inch wheels reminiscent in their look of the Carrera GT. And over and above these standard wheels, the customer has the choice of four optional 19-inch wheels varying in their rim design. The rear lights and the exhaust tailpipes in the middle of the car also reveal the link between the Cayman S and the Boxster. Each of these features highlights the new design language, with a clear focus on muscle, excitement and tension. This special look is further accentuated by the sweeping rear wings literally "flowing" above the tail lights and the horizontal trim bars merging into the specially designed dual tailpipes to the left and right.

Lots of room at the rear

../../JPG/PORSCHE/POR00171.JPG, photo by porsche 09-2005A truly unique feature of the Cayman S is the extra-large 116 x 90 centimetre (45.7 x 35.4") tailgate integrated into the rear end of the car. Stretching in a muscular, sweeping flow into the roofline, the tailgate offers generous access to the luggage compartment at the rear. This extra-large luggage compartment is subdivided into two levels separated visually from one another by a stainless-steel trim strip. Luggage capacity at the rear is 185 litres or 6.48 cu ft up to the bottom of the window, with an even more significant 260 litres or 9.10 cu ft when using all the space available up to roof level. Capacity of the second luggage compartment at the front is 150 litres or 5.25 cu ft, as in the Boxster. In all, this gives the driver up to 410 litres or 14.35 cu ft of luggage space, the Cayman S thus offering not only supreme sportiness and performance, but also a new standard of all-round function and practical value.

Superior aerodynamics: drag coefficient 0.29

Featuring a drag coefficient of 0.29, the Cayman S ranks way ahead of the competition also in terms of aerodynamics. The know-how making this superiority possible comes out clear-ly in every detail, various improvements reducing lift forces on all four wheels by 14 kilos or 31 lb on each wheel in comparison with the Boxster at a speed of 270 km/h or 167 mph. At the rear this strong downforce is mainly a result of the new split wing moving up approximately 80 millimetres or 3.15" as soon as the car exceeds a speed of 120 km/h or 75 mph. Contrary to a spoiler of the type to be found in the Boxster, a split wing of this kind keeps air resistance to a minimum while generating powerful downforce through the specific angle of the wing. Like all of Porsche's sports cars, the Cayman S comes with an almost complete cover on the underfloor ensuring a smooth and largely unobstructed flow of air along the entire floor of the car helping to increase the top speed of the Cayman S while reducing fuel consumption at the same time. A further benefit is the even better handling and driving characteristics above all at high speeds.

With the underfloor cover reducing turbulence and air swirl to a minimum, the air flowing by can be used to cool the car's drivetrain and main components with optimum efficiency. Precisely this is why air guide blades in the rear third of the underfloor cover direct the flow of air specifically to the transmission and power unit in the interest of enhanced cooling.

Fast-revving six-cylinder featuring Porsche VarioCam Plus

The new Cayman S naturally comes with Porsche's classic drive concept: a horizontally-opposed six-cylinder, six-speed transmission, and rear-wheel drive again reflecting the particular position of this new Sports Coupé: The engine is based on the 3.2-litre power unit of the Boxster S, but features the complete cylinder heads carried over from the 911 Carrera. This also applies to the VarioCam Plus camshaft and valve lift adjustment now to be found for the first time outside of the 911 model series: VarioCam Plus offers the technology of a variable engine combining maximum power and performance with optimum qualities for frequent use in town and on country roads. To allow this unique combination, the adjustment of valve timing on the intake camshaft (VarioCam) is combined with a valve lift switchover system (Plus) varying both the valves' opening and closing times as well as valve lift.

More power on less fuel

Benefiting from this superior technology, the Cayman S offers engine characteristics com-bining superior power and pulling force with top performance on a low level of fuel consump-tion: Porsche's new Sports Coupé, despite the increase in engine output by 15 bhp or 9 kW, consumes only a little more fuel than the Boxster S, the Cayman S covering 100 kilometres in the composite EU cycle on just 10.6 litres (equal to 26.6 mpg Imp), only 0.2 litres more than the Boxster S. A further important feature in this context is the fast-revving performance of the engine made possible by its very short stroke: Bore of 96 millimetres or 3.78" carried over from the power unit of the Carrera is combined with stroke of just 78 millimetres or 3.07" taken from the engine of the Boxster. In all, this adds up to engine capacity of 3.4 litres allowing the Cayman S to develop maximum output of 295 PS (217 kW) at 6250 rpm. And like on the Carrera, the engine cut-off speed is a significant 7300 rpm.

The crankshaft, main bearings and pistons have all been newly developed for this engine, with the crankshaft being stiffer than on the Boxster S and measuring 3 millimetres more in diameter on the main bearings - that is the same dimensions as on the power unit of the Carrera. The connecting rods, in turn, come from the six-cylinder Boxster engine while the aluminium crankcase is largely identical with that of the 3.6-litre power unit in the 911 Carrera.

Variable intake manifold for high torque

To optimise torque to an even higher standard, the power unit of the Cayman S comes with a double-chamber distributor pipe leading directly to a distributor butterfly. Like the resonance butterfly in the connection pipe, this butterfly comes between the two rows of cylinders. Once the butterfly is connected, the two rows of cylinders draw in combustion air separately of one another, the engine thus running like a double three-cylinder. This effect significantly boosts torque at low engine speeds, thus providing a significant increase in power and mo-mentum from just 1500 rpm. The distributor butterfly is opened for an optimum flow of air as of 3500 rpm and closes again at 4900 rpm, while the resonance butterfly in the second connection pipe opens at the same time to generate more power through the resonance charge effect. Both butter-flies are then opened at speeds above 5200 rpm to provide maximum air throughput. As a result of this highly efficient process, the power unit develops its maximum torque of 340 Newton-metres throughout a relatively wide speed range from 4400 - 6000 rpm. The new Cayman S outperforms both the European EU4 and the US LEVII emission standards.

Tiptronic S available as an option

The Cayman S comes as standard with a six-speed manual gearbox offering ultra-precise, crisp and short gearshift travel. Tiptronic S automatic transmission is available as an option, in this case featuring new hydraulic and electronic management allowing use of the variable gearshift programs carried over from the Carrera.

The sports suspension

In its basic concept and configuration, the chassis and suspension of the Cayman S is the same as on the Boxster S, but with even more sporting and dynamic features. This specific configuration, operating in conjunction with the very torsionally stiff and flexurally stable bodyshell, makes the Cayman S an entirely different and all-new driving experience with high safety reserves, without however neglecting driving comfort in any way. Indeed, the car's handling qualities and lateral acceleration offer a very high standard in every respect expressed most appropriately in terms of lap times: In standard trim the Cayman S laps the Northern Circuit of Nürburgring in just 8:20 minutes. And with the Sports Chrono Program activated, running on 19-inch tyres and using PASM, lap times are down another 9 seconds, making Porsche's new Sports Coupé only slightly "slower" than the 911 Carrera.

Firmer set-up for greater lateral dynamics

This sporting performance naturally requires firm springs, dampers and anti-roll bars. Hence, the front suspension, as on Porsche's other sports cars, consists of a spring strut axle and separately mounted longitudinal and track control arms. This concept ensures very precise wheel guidance of the highest standard combined with an equally supreme standard of roll comfort. A new outbound/rebound stop spring in the damper strut serves additionally to reduce the sway angle of the body, thus making the Cayman S even more sure-footed in its response under high lateral acceleration. The Cayman s also features firmer springs on the rear axle compared with the Boxster S, and has an even harder outbound setting of the dampers.

As an option the Cayman S is available with Porsche's electronically controlled Active Suspension Management (PASM) lowering the entire car by 10 millimetres or almost 0.4" and enabling the driver to choose two different suspension set-ups at the touch of a button: The PASM Normal set-up activates a sporting but comfortable configuration, the PASM Sport set-up makes the suspension extra-sporting and dynamic.

High-performance brakes finished in red

In its basic features and components, the brake system is the same as on the 911 Carrera and Boxster S, thus offering brake power and resistance to fading of the highest calibre. At the front brake power is generated by four-piston monobloc fixed callipers acting on innervented brake discs measuring 318 millimetres or 12.52" in diameter. At the rear the Cayman S likewise comes with brake discs measuring 299 millimetres or 11.77" in diameter and also featuring four-piston monobloc fixed callipers. All four callipers are finished in red as a particular sign of distinction. Extra-large brake air spoilers guiding the air rushing by directly towards parts and compo-nents exposed to particularly high temperatures ensure optimum cooling of the brakes at all times.

As an option the Cayman S is available with Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes or PCCB for short. This brake system excels above all by its four extra-light ceramic brake discs ensuring a high and consistent frictional coefficient without the slightest delay and keeping wear to an absolute minimum under regular driving conditions.

Porsche's Sports Chrono Package for even more dynamic performance

The Sports Chrono Package is yet another unique and exclusive Porsche option also available on the Cayman S. Giving various functions of the car a particularly sporting and dynamic set-up, the Sports Chrono Package modifies both the car's engine management and Porsche Stability Management (PSM), as well as the shift behaviour and the gearshift speed of Tiptronic S and the particular characteristics of Porsche's active PASM suspension, where fitted. As a result, the Cayman S responds even more dynamically and directly to the gas pedal, offering the driver even greater freedom when driving to the limit thanks to the car's more sporting and dynamic set-up. Using the Sports Chrono Program, the Cayman S Sports Coupé laps the Northern Circuit of Nürburgring another three seconds faster than usual.

Torsionally stiff precision engineering

The body structure of the Cayman S is based on the chassis of the Boxster designed and developed as an open-air sports car and therefore offering superior stability even without a roof. Now, integrating the fixed coupé roof, the Cayman S offers an extremely strong, torsionally and flexurally stiff bodyshell setting new standards in the sports coupé segment: In terms of flexural stiffness, the Cayman S is more than 100 per cent "stronger" than the Boxster and its torsional stiffness of approximately 31,500 Newton metres per degree is almost the same as on the 911 Coupé, meaning that it would take the maximum torque of approximately 92 Cayman S engines to bend the body of the car by just 1°. This extremely high level of stiffness has direct repercussions on the precision of the chassis and suspension. With even severe bumps on the road having only a minor effect on the geometry of the body structure, the geometry of the chassis and suspension remains almost unchanged even when the going gets tough, the Cayman S driving like on those proverbial rails.

Passive safety with that supreme Porsche standard

Offering supreme structural stiffness all round the passenger cell, the Cayman S has every-thing it takes to ensure passive safety of the highest standard. Apart from three-point inertiareel seat belts complete with belt latch tensioners and belt force limiters, two-stage full-size airbags on the driver's and passenger's side come as standard. A further standard feature is the POSIP Porsche Side Impact Protection System comprising, inter alia, a thorax and a head airbag on each side of the car, again in the interest of extra allround safety.

Wide range of options from tyre pressure control all the way to leather upholstery

../../JPG/PORSCHE/POR00172.JPG, photo by porsche 09-2005The Cayman S is available with virtually all individual features and highlights of equipment currently at the disposal of the Porsche sports car customer. One of these features is TPC Tyre Pressure Control of the latest generation. Apart from helping to prevent possible tyre damage, TPC serves in particular, through simple supervision and control of tyre pressure, to avoid inconsistent tyre wear and excessive fuel consumption. Further options are Porsche's Park Assistant, rear-view mirrors with an automatic anti-dazzle function, as well as PCM Porsche Communication Management together with DVD navigation. The interior, finally, can be personalised by a wide range of features such as partial and all-round leather upholstery, wood, carbon or aluminium trim. And last but not least, the Cayman S comes with a complete range of seats extending from sports seats via all-electric adjustable seats complete with lumbar supports to adaptive sports seats for the most demanding individualist.

porsche

Porsche Press Information, September 07, 2005

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